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In the competitive landscape of San Francisco's startup ecosystem, a variety of hacker houses vie for the attention of young, ambitious founders, often luring them in with promises of luxurious accommodations and gourmet meals. However, one of the city's oldest hacker houses, Mission Control, proudly distinguishes itself by embracing a no-frills ethos.

It is not the Four Seasons, declared Conor Brennan-Burke, a resident of the house, during a recent tour. His words immediately set the tone for the experience awaiting me at Mission Control. Upon arriving in the bustling Mission District, my expectations of sleek, futuristic surroundings were quickly tempered when I was dropped off on a noisy street and approached an unassuming entrance nestled between a deserted storefront and a vibrant graffiti mural.

Inside, the first rule is to remove your shoes, a practice that instantly fosters a sense of communal living among residents. As I complied, I was introduced to Lisa Shmulyan, a resident since 2020. Her journey to finding a room in the house was a testament to the high demand for accommodation here; in fact, she initially lived in a tent in the living room for an entire month while waiting for a room to become available. There was someone living in the closet, someone else on the patio in a shed, she recounted with a smile. But it didnt matter. Youre surrounded by people doing incredible things. That energy is hard to find anywhere else.

Mission Control was established in 2013 by a group of former Thiel fellows, and it has since thrived despite a trend where other hacker houses, like Chez JJ and Negev, have disbanded in favor of newer entrants boasting more luxurious amenities, such as AGI House and HFO Residency. What sets Mission Control apart is its communal structure; everything from furniture choices to event schedules is made collectively through voting.

Its lasted 12 years without a board and without a manager, Brennan-Burke explained. It has been passed down peer-to-peer, generation to generation. Over the years, residents have reportedly raised an impressive $2 billion and created companies valued at more than $200 billion, illustrating the profound impact of this unique living arrangement.

Notable alumni from Mission Control include Kashish Gupta, Tejas Manohar, and Josh Curl, co-founders of Hightouch, an AI marketing firm that recently secured $80 million in funding at a valuation of $1.2 billion. Josh lived in the closet for six months, and now hes the CEO of a unicorn, Brennan-Burke reminisced, highlighting the remarkable transformations that have occurred within these walls.

Additionally, Marty Kausus, co-founder and CEO of the B2B support platform Pylon backed by Andreessen Horowitz and General Catalyst, and Lucy Guo, co-founder of ScaleAI, both call Mission Control home. Some residents have even opted to live in closets to save on rent. Indeed, the cost of living here is significantly less than typical San Francisco rents; a room in Mission Control goes for around $1,600, which is roughly half of what a one-bedroom apartment would cost in this high-demand area. Remarkably, many residents choose to remain at Mission Control even after securing Series A funding.

I think ultimately the reason that people stay, even though they could live in a nicer place, is just a really strong community, Shmulyan expressed. This is a house where people are doing their life's work and doing it side by side with each other.

Upon venturing upstairs, I found a lively group of current and former residents congregated in the living room, sipping Diet Cokes and engrossed in coding on their MacBooks. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the possibility of remote work, yet for the residents of Mission Control, the demand for such communal spaces has only surged, as the need for interpersonal connections intensifies in tumultuous times.

Its a natural human instinct to find connections when theres confusion and crisis, noted Chase Changhee Seon, who traveled from Seoul to launch an events and community platform. Even in this world of tech and AI, you cannot replace human connections.

At first glance, the houses 6,400-square-foot interior resembles a college frat house, complete with a random bench press that seems to go unused in the hallway and an eclectic assortment of furniture. However, it is important to note the absence of televisions and the immaculate cleanliness maintained by weekly cleaning services. Alcohol consumption is also notably rare among residents. Its not a party house, Brennan-Burke stated. We drink tea, build stuff, and hang out.

Getting into Mission Control isnt as simple as applying; candidates must be connected to someone already living in the house who can vouch for them. Even with this connection, the competition is fierce, with only about 3% of applicants making it through the rigorous interview process. During my conversations with residents, I discovered that many were not even working on their own startups, which reflects the houses broader criteria. The emphasis is placed on an individuals character and how well they mesh with the existing community rather than solely on their entrepreneurial prospects.

People have moved here with nothing, Brennan-Burke shared. They had no idea, no cofounder. Just ambition. Thats what we select for. A significant red flag during the application process is if an applicant is known as an influencer. People dont come here for clout, Shmulyan asserted. They come here to build. It only works when you filter for authenticity.

Before my visit came to an end, I had the opportunity to meet Jessica Gerwin, who moved into Mission Control last year after gaining recognition in San Franciscos startup scene for hosting engaging dinner parties. She is currently developing Socrates Lab, an AI agent startup. Gerwin reflected on her drastic change in environment, stating that the level of collaboration and understanding among her fellow residents would have seemed unrealistic in her previous Los Angeles apartment. Now, she commits to 80-hour workweeks at Mission Control in pursuit of her entrepreneurial vision.

You have to be somewhat delusional to want to change the world in the ways that founders do, and so theres something special about surrounding yourself with other people who dont bat an eye when youre trying to do the same thing, Gerwin said, concluding with a sentiment reflective of the community spirit at Mission Control: Everyone here will be at my wedding and my IPO.